David

David is Rose and Violet's father. He is, in the words of Violet, a "kind, sad man." David is also a psychiatrist, yet he doesn't recognize the signs of mental illness in his own daughter. He cares for his wife and his daughter, yet he doesn't outwardly demonstrate the same emotional attachment to Rose that his wife does and, according to Violet, has less of an ability to calm her down when she "goes off." He is the one who speaks in practical terms, for instance, how it is impossible to take care of Rose after Dr. Thorne's death, and he is the one who takes care of the arrangements after Rose's suicide.

Galen

Galen is Rose and Violet's mother. She is a musician who is regarded by people in their town as eccentric. Galen is the first person to realize that Rose is suffering from a mental...